We are often asked about what happens to a GPA when a student transfers high schools. In Texas, many high schools convert grades to an unweighted GPA, which can be very confusing—and perhaps even frustrating, especially when it’s on top of adjusting to a new home and new high school. However, it’s an expected process and not something to worry too deeply about. I hope I can offer some clarification on what is going on when a GPA is converted.

Transfer essays are different because transfers are different! As we used to say at Georgetown, every transfer has a story to tell…and the essay is their opportunity to do it!

The most frequent essay question for transfer applicants is “Why do you want to transfer to X School?” This is a two-sided question. It’s asking not only why you want to go to X school, but also why the school you currently attend isn’t a good fit.

California residents have long been aware that the University of California system plays by a different set of rules than many other colleges and universities. Your GPA is based only on grades earned in 10th and 11th grade. You must take a fine arts class in order to be minimally qualified for admission. And application readers are much more interested in the story you tell in your essay than the language or style you use to tell it.

Here at College Coach we get this question a lot. I recently talked to a father whose son was a senior in high school and although it was October, his son had made no strides in researching colleges though his parents had been asking him to do so since his junior year. Just as concerning, their son was consistently earning more Cs than Bs, and not because he had trouble understanding the material. Rather, he simply wasn’t completing his work. His father described him as a good kid, but a little immature for his age and grade level.

The most recent episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation addressed a variety of useful topics for our listeners, first digging deeply into how to understand and prepare for two different graduate programs: the MBA (Master of Business Administration) and the MD (Doctor of Medicine) degrees. Guest host Ian Fisher concluded the show with a college finance expert who offered practical tips for students transferring from one college to another mid-year.

Even though the official start to winter isn’t here just yet, it sure feels like it! Snow is falling, and the countdown to the end of the year has begun. That means that regular decision college application deadlines are just around the corner for high school seniors, and college freshmen will soon be returning home for winter break. Last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation spoke to both high school seniors who are working on the applications for some Ivy League colleges, and also explored the transfer process for those returning college freshmen who may be reconsidering their college choice.

On last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, Elizabeth shared cautionary tales of parents who made more of an impression than their children, the myths behind financial aid for transfer applicants, and tips for what seniors should (and shouldn’t) be doing while they wait for their decisions to return.

Transferring Colleges: Two-Year to Four-Year

There are lots of reasons – financial, academic, lifestyle – to start your college career at a two-year college. Whatever went into your decision, you’ve changed and been changed by your two years at community college. Now that you’re thinking about applying to a four-year college, what do you do?

First, consider your priorities. What’s most important to you? Is it finishing as quickly as you can, even if that means a more expensive option, or are finances driving the bus? Is it enrolling in a specific school, or perhaps a specific department or program? Are you able to move to a new city or state, or are you only considering schools nearby? Do you have other priorities? Being clear about what you want – what’s possible, what’s affordable, what’s practical – will be the first step in making sure the next ones are in the right direction.

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The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts is where College Coach experts weigh in on the latest college admissions topics. We cover everything from application timelines and strategies to tips on financing your child's education.